We spent a few days in a slice of America’s heartland recently; we were in Kankakee County, Illinois. An acquired habit we have had for a long, long time is to read the local newspaper. In the newspaper, one can see the composite character of the community. By looking at the pictures. By reading the newsy local events. By seeing who is in the military. By seeing who is doing what in schools, churches, businesses and organizations. By reading the legal notices. By reading the classified pages and by reading the opinion pages.

The Daily Journal is Kankakee County’s daily newspaper –  – in it we found two opinion columns we want to share with you.

After returning home, many vets can’t find work – by Ron Jackson

We remembered. On the local front, the community remembered our deceased veterans, and the weather even cooperated Memorial Day by giving us one of the most beautiful days of the year, so far. After the day’s ritual of parades and moments of silence, some much-needed attention was also given to the plight of our living veterans.

To my surprise, someone who is not a veteran, not an activist and has not had a family member of her generation serve in the military reacted vehemently after watching a news story about some of the challenges of our returning veterans. In particular she was disturbed by the higher unemployment rate for veterans than those of civilians of the same age. She couldn’t understand it. In her mind, it just wasn’t right.

A segment of the program she watched told stories of veterans returning from war with skills that could not easily parlay into civilian jobs. She couldn’t understand why a military truck driver could not easily transition into a similar civilian job without literally being retrained. She said the same applied to trained military medical emergency technicians. “And don’t they have leadership, a great work ethic, and respect for authority?” she asked, adding that those are some of the skills and attributes of a lot of today’s young job applicants lack.

Trying to diffuse this wakening giant, I offered that driving a military truck in a war zone was different than driving in congested traffic, and that a different skill set is required to avoid roadside bombs than it is to avoid idiots driving while texting. Therefore, some retraining may be in order. Or that being a military medical responder requires absolute attention to the task of saving a fellow soldier. And while a civilian medical technician has the same lifesaving goal, he or she may also have the threat of a lawsuit lingering in the back of their mind. She didn’t buy it. It was too late. Something had to be done.

But what could be done, when more than 1 in 5 veterans ages 18-24 are unemployed, she wondered. What about the veterans who left jobs to serve? Weren’t those jobs supposed to be theirs upon their return, she asked with a look in her eyes that said she was sure she read or heard that somewhere. Trying to fuel her new-found passion, I reminded her that our government does not always fulfill its promises and suggested she read some of the promises our government made to the American Indians before sending them off to reservations. I had her fuming.

I didn’t have the guts to tell her she was part of what some veteran advocates call the, “growing disconnect between the American people and the military.” Describing the issue, one Vietnam War veteran said, People “don’t have the slightest ideas of the sacrifices, not only the military person, but … the sacrifices of the military families.”

After she was done, she almost apologized for being upset. She even asked if she was wrong for speaking in such a manner. It will be wrong if you say this only to me or that you don’t say these things again until the next veterans’ recognition weekend.

I’m hoping she really lights up her elected representatives’ emails and phones. Of course, that is after she gets involved in the local veterans services efforts.

Now if I could just get under the skin of about a few thousands more locally “disconnected Americans” before Veterans Day.

[NOTE: Ron Jackson is a regular columnist for The Daily Journal.]

Bravery, building community, volunteer firefighter’s job – by Mike Whalen, fire chief

“When a man becomes a fireman his greatest act of bravery has been accomplished. What he does after that is all in the line of work.”  — Edward F. Croker

In the beginning, volunteer fire companies were tasked with protecting the lives and property of their fellow neighbors. The job was hard, the hours long, the equipment minimal, and lives were lost — all with no form of compensation.

Today the work is still hard and the hours are long, yet there are still those that find it rewarding. Two words — good job — is all they need to hear. The men and women of today’s fire service are here and ready to act in a second’s notice. However, those willing to serve are diminishing.

The typical American family today consists of both parents working full-time jobs, spending as much time with their children as possible and striving to find those few remaining minutes of each day to relax. We live in a busy world and most of us are impoverished, not of money, but of time. Yet, there are still those who find time to serve their community through determination and sacrifice.

Realizing these facts, it almost seems insulting to ask for the time of my fellow citizens. However, we have a responsibility to ensure our communities are protected, that the residents need not live in fear. Therefore, I ask those who are willing to serve to acknowledge this opportunity.

I can assure you the work will be hard, the hours will be long and sacrifices will have to be made. I can assure you that you will miss birthday parties, sporting events, maybe even a friend’s wedding. I can assure you there will be sleepless nights, disturbing scenes and you will see the darkest side of humanity. However, beyond all this tragedy, on the other side of the flames there is something much more — pride.

Being a firefighter has very little to do with putting out fires. Those willing to serve are the foundation of their community. They are the men and women that show up in your darkest hour and stay by your side until they are confident you are safe and secure. They are your brothers and sisters that help you in your time of need. They do not discriminate, and their integrity and honor is second are unselfish and accepted.

There is a reason every child wants to be a firefighter. Beyond the flashing lights and sirens, beyond the shiny fire engine running down the street and beyond the excitement at the scene of a fire, they see it. They see the nobility and compassion a firefighter affords his fellow man. They know behind the badge is a person that has devoted his life to serving others. Children recognize safety and security, and most importantly they see the bond firefighters share with their community.

Today, I ask you to see this also. For those willing to serve, the opportunity awaits. Although the sacrifice is great, those that choose to make it will find it was worth it.

[NOTE: Mike Whalen is the fire chief for the Limestone Fire Protection District in Kankakee County, Illinois.]